Juuno had warned her. As a peacock, she's going to attract a lot. She was a beauty. A beacon. She drew eyes to her like a moon in a starless night. Depending on the chosen, the magically drawn attention was a flattery, or a curse. In suit or not, admiration and wonder followed her like black shadows, constantly licking at her heels.

Marinette, while flattered, had to be one of the chosens that found this to be more of a curse.

It was unnerving to find eyes following her.

It made her wonder how did Chloe handle this?

Why did Lila want this?

If she was Belle now, her feathers would be all ruffled. She didn't like it.

It made her appreciate Malin all the more.

Juuno had revealed that just as the fox couldn't lie to a peacock, a peacock couldn't charm a fox.

It made his affections pure, for her, not the magic of the peacock miraculous.

She was very touched to realize this.

Now if only it was the same for Paul Evans.

A charmed boy that had trapped her in a hall, proclaiming his "love" and declaring that they should be together.

A boy she's certainly never talked too before.

A boy who didn't take "Sorry, no" easily.

"Why is charming a peacock power?!" Marinette snapped as she dove around the halls, trying to avoid the large wolf based akuma Paul had become.

From the purse, Juuno called, "It's supposed to help people trust us! We're protectors and healers! If they feel safe and drawn to us, we can help them!" Juuno dared crack the purse open, adding, "Besides! We never had to deal with akumas! Rejections usually don't lead to such... dramatics."

"Uh huh," Marinette huffs, grabbing the railing and standing on it, balancing on it. She turned to face the charging wolf, waiting for the right moment as she snapped her purse closed.

When the akuma dove at her, Marinette jumped above him, rolling along that rough back, landing safely in the hall while the wolf went toppling down to the floor below. Marinette tore off, only to skid to a stop when a canine dropped down in front of her.

"You scared me!" she snapped.

Malin grinned. "Apologies Princess." He offered her bow. "You look like your in need of assistance."

"I am," she said, taking his dark gloved hand. "Can you get me out of here?"

"Why but of course," Malin said pulling her. "I actually came prepar-"

The akuma jumped up behind them, growling, green eyes ablazed in fury.

Malin's tail went straight up in surprise, ears falling flat on his head. Marinette pressed against his side, tensing. Malin tightened his hold on Marinette, earning a furious growl from the wolf.

"How?!" Malin demanded, an echoing growl lacing his words. "I had left a lot of Marinettes for you to play with!"

"Those copies didn't have her scent," the wolf sneered, prowling closer. Malin twitched, displeased. "Now give back what's mine, fox."

"Yours?!" Marinette sputtered.

Malin growled, tail twitching. "No," he said, and gave that nearing wolf a hard whack with his flute. Startled surprise, Malin quickly spirited her away while the akuma blanked out.

The akuma snarled angrily behind him, quickly giving chase.

Jumping forward, his teeth almost caught Malin's tail, before he was tackled to the side by an angry black cat. As snarls and hisses filled the air, Malin took the chance to carry Marinette to the top of the building. Setting her down, he gave her head a light tap with his flute, smearing an orange mist over her.

"There," he said with a grin. "Now you'll be mistaken for a pigeon! So long as you keep a distance, he shouldn't be able to sniff you out!"

"Thanks Malin," she sighed, frowning as she turned to eye the fight. Poor Chat had been thrown away and the akuma was roaring out angrily.

"Did he hurt you?" Malin asked.

"No."

"Alright," he eased, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "Stay here, I'll come back for you after this mutt has been taught some manners."

"You better be careful, Dread Pirate."

He chuckles, withdrawing from her. "As you wish."

Before he could drop down to try and help Chat, Ladybug sharply calls out, "Malin!" He pauses, turning to her as she lands beside him. "Where's Marinette?" she demanded.

"Hidden," he said simply.

"Good," she said, ready to jump down with Malin, only to pause, turning to eye the fox.

Tail twitching at the attention, Malin asked, "Yes?"

Ladybug outright asked, "You're Adrien Agreste, aren't you?"

Malin and Marinette tensed.

Malin stared down at Ladybug, smile gone from his lips, green eyes calculating.

Marinette gaped at Ladybug's bluntness, then turned curious eyes to Malin.

Adrien...?

Ladybug smiled, looking pleased. "It is you, isn't it? You're really Adrien Agreste aren't you?"

Malin breathed, "I'm Adrien Agreste." Ladybug looked smug, while Marinette tensed. Only Malin continued, setting a dark glove on his chest, a look of wonder crossing his face. "I'm Adrien Agreste. Woah. Woah. I didn't know that I was the Adrien Agreste! Thanks for telling me Red!" He turned away, chest puffed out, tail wagging happily. "How furtunate for me! Why, if I was Adrien, I could easily woo Belle! I'm so handsome! And pretty! Like literal sunshine! And! And! And I hear that Adrien works out. That he was shredded. That he has an eight pack." Malin grinned. "I'm down having an eight pack."

Ladybug gapes at him.

Marinette resists the urge to smack her forehead and groan.

"You are Adrien, aren't you?" Ladybug demanded.

Malin chuckles, swaggering closer to the edge. "A little Bluebird warned me about you." He pointed his flute at her, grinning cheekily. "How you're playing a guessing game, trying to figure me and Belle out. Sorry to say that you're wrong."

"I'm wrong?!"

Behind them Chat was thrown out into the open air, yowling, "Help!" before dropping back down.

Marinette winced for him.

She wonders if the illusion Malin placed on her would disperse if she moved...

Malin drew Ladybug close, declaring as he pointed his flute downwards, "How can I be Adrien Agreste, which would be totally awesome, if he's right down there?"

Marinette followed the point without thinking, furrowing her brow when she saw a blurry image of Adrien among scared crisp, clear students.

...That was an illusion.

Adrien wasn't down there.

Not that Ladybug could see. She frowned deeply, turning suspicious eyes to Malin. "You do know that I know that your main power are illusions, right?"

"I would be greatly concerned if you didn't."

"So I can't trust that claim."

"Ah," Malin bid, taping her nose, "but you also have no reason to doubt it either, Bug."

She glared at him.

He smiled charmingly down at her. "If it helps Red," he offers, "think of the illusions as an added challenge to your little game."

Ladybug huffs, then drops down to help Chat.

Malin turned to Marinette, gave her a familiar salute, and dropped down to join the fray.

Marinette stared after him stiffly. "I think," she utters to the air, "I think I found out who Ma-Malin is..."

Juuno pops her purse open and gives her hand a pat. "It happens," he consoles. "It's hard for peacocks to avoid truths they don't want to know."

Marinette just made a weak sound.